Speeding Ticket in Inyo County, California

My question involves a speeding ticket from the State of: California

Two weekends ago I was pulled over going north on 395 close to Bishop.
In that area, the road is a two lane highway. The CHP officer was in the right hand lane. I was in the left lane. When I passed the officer, I was going no more than 62MPH. The speed limit on that stretch of highway is 65mph. The officer couldn't have been going more than 60 if not slower. He pulled me over and asked me if I knew how fast I was going. When I told him I didn't know, he said I was going "like 85".

My question is I know I was going over 65 before I caught up to the CHP officer's vehicle but I know it was not as fast as 85.
Does the officer have to inform you that he got you on radar? He was in front of me so he couldn't have paced me. And he was going slower than speed limit. The only thing he has against me is that I caught up to him.
But before I even passed him, I was doing no more than 62mph and I slowed down without touching my breaks so I know I wasn't going that fast.

I'm not that upset that I got pulled over as I am that he claimed I was going 85 mph.

I would just pay the ticket and go to traffic school but the fine is $418. I just feel like I've been ripped off by the state b/c it can't balance it's budget.

Please advise what my best options are here.

You ever notice that the tickets in CA cost 3 - 4 times what they cost in other states??? And there are actually people here who would have you believe that revenue is not a motive in tickets in CA!!!

Inyo county is one county that actually does follow the law (for the most part) in that the DA will actually respond completely to a discovery request. So, I'd recommend that you do a discovery request and get all the info you can. I have a friend who just did one and got back pretty much everything asked for. This is a list of items requested:

Quote:

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The issuing officer's training records that pertain to his instructions,
certifications, or continuation of traffic speed enforcement, and to the
instruction and certification in the use of the speed measuring device that
was used to ascertain the speed of the vehicle described in the
above-referenced Notice to Appear.

Any copies of the departmental operations or procedures manual used for the
training of this RADAR operator.

The officer's daily log for the day of April 30th, 2010.

The officer's RADAR log for the day of April 30th, 2010.

Detailed information of how a RADAR was being used to ascertain the speed of
the vehicle described in the above-referenced Notice to Appear.

The RADAR beam width measured in degree which was pointing at the vehicle
described in the above-referenced Notice to Appear.

The distance between the RADAR and the vehicle described in the
above-referenced Notice to Appear during the period of time where the speed
was measured.

The name, model, and serial number of the device used to ascertain the speed
of the vehicle described in the above-referenced Notice to Appear, and the
serial numbers and type (i.e. tuning for a particular speed measurement) of
the tuning forks used to test the speed-measuring device or RADAR.

Copies of the maintenance, certification, and calibration records, for the
last twelve months, of the speed-measuring device that was used to ascertain
the speed of the vehicle described in the above-referenced Notice to Appear.

A copy of the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) License that
authorized the issuing police agency and operator of the speed-measuring
device or RADAR to lawfully operate the device on a specific frequency
and/or range of frequencies.

A copy of the portion of the radar unit manufacturer's operator manual
relating to field use and operation.

A copy of any documentary evidence to be introduced at trial.

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Thank you for your quick response. This ticket has been bothering me ever since I got it. I will definitely do a discovery request.

There were so many CHP officers patroling that highway that weekend just pulling over people left and right. On the way back from Mammoth we saw 4 people on the side of the road getting tickets. I don't want to be too negative on law enforcement but I think they're banking on the fact that not a lot of people contest these tickets since most of us don't live anywhere near Bishop and don't have the time or money to drive up there to contest a speeding violation.